The Master's split a doubleheader against the No. 11 ranked Hope International Royals Saturday, losing the first game 4-7 but coming back big in the second 14-3.
The Royals took the three-game series, winning two, making the Mustangs 11-5 overall, 3-3 in GSAC.
Game 1
Repeating a pattern they started on Friday, the Royals put up a crooked number in the top of the first, forcing TMU to play catch up throughout the game.
In fact, The Master's didn't score until the bottom of the eighth inning. At that point, HIU had built a 7-0 lead.
"We had runners on but we didn't get the big hit," said TMU Head Coach
Monte Brooks. "We need that clutch hit to close the gap and we just didn't get it."
Davis Beavers, playing in his final season as a Mustang, hit the first home run of his career, a two-run shot to left, to put TMU on the board.
In the bottom of the ninth,
Miles Henderson drilled a shot over the left-center field fence to add two more, but the cushion was too much to overcome.
Carson Knapp got the start and went 6.0 innings, giving up three runs (all earned) on seven hits and struck out four. He was followed by
Nolan Inouye for an inning and
Ethan Schmidt pitching the final two.
"After that first inning, I felt Carson really settled down," Brooks said. "He only gave up one run over the next five innings."
Game 2
The Mustangs bats woke up after a two-game slumber, pounding out 14 hits to win it 14-3 in seven innings.
The offense scored in every inning but one, including twice putting five runs on the board in an inning.
That support was all starter J.T Friesen needed. The senior went 5.0 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits and striking out three.
Ryan Mathiesen pitched the final two scoreless innings.
"J.T. gave us a good game, we had the big inning, we got guys on and we got the big hits to put up crooked numbers," Brooks said.
The Master's had six players get two hits in the game
Henderson hit his second home run of the day in game two, finishing 2 for 4 with four RBI and two runs scored;
Austin Young went 2 for 3 with a pair of doubles, three RBI and three runs;Â Mathiesen went 2 for 4 with three RBI, two runs and a double;
Ty Beck went 2 for 3 with two RBI;
Cason Brownell collected two hits and an RBI; and
Tommy Gwinn had a pair of hits and scored three runs.
The Mustangs have played 15 of their 16 games this season at Lou Herwaldt Stadium. They will head to Arizona next weekend to begin a three-game series against Ottawa of Arizona. First game is Friday.
